EcoBizCheck FAQ's
Q. What does EcoBizCheck certification mean?
A. EcoBizCheck's world-leading, online, high impact annual certification program has been heavily researched and comprises the latest European and Asian best practice standards. It covers energy, water, waste and recycling, transportation and travel, and supply chain sustainability. Clients complete an online assessment and receive a comprehensive environmental report containing their score and practical, high-impact actions to reduce their footprint. Depending on how many eco-actions are implemented, clients reach Bronze (70% of total points score), Silver (80%) or Gold (90%) EcoBizCheck certification.
Bronze, silver and gold certification is verified and audited by Bureau Veritas - the world's largest certification provider with over 44,000 staff and 400,000 corporate clients.
We have ensured that our standards are very rigorous and that our certification thresholds are set at high, yet achievable, levels. Our three tiered certification standard also allows you to progressively become more sustainable. We are sure that our standards will meet prospective future regulatory requirements. Our clients and partner list includes: Bureau Veritas, British Standards Institution (inventors of ISO9000 and ISO14000), Staples/Corporate Express, Harvey Norman, Ruralco, NSW Government - Department of Premier and Cabinet, Mediterranean Shipping Company, NRMA, Australasian Compliance Institute (ACI), Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA), NSW Business Chamber, Chamber of Commerce and Industry QLD, CitySmart, Climate Friendly, other leading industry associations and many SME's.
Q. Why is certification annual?
A. Every quarter EcoBizCheck updates all assessments and reports and adds the latest international research into the assessment process. Consequently, after 12 months the assessment is vastly improved and includes the most up-to-date sustainable business practices.
Q. What are the weightings within the assessment based on?
The individual weightings are underpinned by the following methodology:
There are over 100 architectural, quality and other standards and assessments world-wide. Of those, over 60 have some significant 'green' or 'sustainable' components. We reviewed these assessment frameworks and combined and modified them to reflect the relevant commercial aspects of the office, retail, food and beverage and IT environment. In other words, we have taken the best of the best of the assessment methods currently in existence and combined them into one completely automated, on-line assessment methodology.
Bureau Veritas verifies EcoBizCheck's environmental assessments and has validated each level of certification.
Every single underlying action has a real or perceived impact on the environment - e.g. recycling paper clips will have a negligible impact (unless you had billions of them, of course) whereas switching off your IT overnight, on weekends and during holidays will have a much greater impact. All actionable items were thus rated and weighted in collaboration with organizations such as Deloitte, NSW Government (Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW Business Chamber, University experts, environmental organizations and many others.
Ultimately Bureau Veritas have verified our scoring system - and you simply cannot get a higher authority to give it the thumbs-up.
It could be argued that every rating system is de facto arbitrary. Someone has, at some stage of the process, defined benchmarks or minimum requirements. Our system is no different: in conjunction with a panel of experts we developed our rating system that was then verified by the world's largest certification body.
Even if the weighting of one of the actions were skewed it would have a negligible impact on the overall score as the sample range of actions is so large. e.g. Action A has a weighting of 0.6% which is out by 30% (i.e. it should be a weighting of 0.78%) - this will have an impact of a mere 0.18% on the total score.
How does EcoBizCheck Certification compare to ISO 14001 Environmental Standards?
The ISO system provides a compliance framework whereby practitioners must attend training, create a framework and develop action strategies themselves. Compliance is then audited at an additional cost.
EcoBizCheck's certification system provides organizations with a fast, low cost and action-oriented sustainability program for immediate implementation to achieve bronze, silver or gold certification levels.
In conjunction with Bureau Veritas EcoBizCheck has developed a substantially lower cost, streamlined process for clients who wish to obtain ISO14001 certification. Click here to enquire about our highly competitive offering.
Q. Who is EcoBizCheck?
A. We are business people just like you who are extremely concerned about the ramifications of pollution and Climate Change. We want to dedicate our careers to finding solutions and help businesses become more sustainable. For more information on EcoBizCheck and the team visit About Us.
Our objective at EcoBizCheck is to show business that it makes commercial sense to become more sustainable as our certification will help businesses:
- Rapidly increase profits
- Reduce costs and wastage
- Gain market share by standing out in the market place
Q. Why certify with EcoBizCheck?
A. EcoBizCheck's environmental assessment is designed to help you:
- Improve profitability
- Create new revenue opportunities
- Attract and retain staff
- Verify your green credentials
- Maximize your PR and Marketing opportunities
Bronze, silver and gold certification is independently audited by the world's leading certification provider Bureau Veritas giving you full confidence in the quality of our program.
Q. How does the 100% money back guarantee work?
A. If you have implemented all the actions recommended and have not saved at least the cost of your certification in the first year we will refund you your annual fee.
Q. What type of companies will benefit most from certification?
A. Certification by EcoBizCheck is best suited to hotels, clubs, retail or food and beverage outlets, any business with an office or large IT department.
Q. Do we get credit for some of the things our organization is already doing?
A. Yes! In fact your organization may have already reached one of the certification levels providing you with a very good reason to be EcoBizCheck certified and to get the recognition your efforts deserve.
Q. Do I have to do everything on the checklist to become EcoBizCheck certified?
A. No! But you need to reach at least 70% for Bronze, 80% for Silver and 90% for Gold certification. Until you reach one of these certification levels you can use the 'EcoBizCheck in Progress' logos.
Once you reach bronze, silver or gold you will be audited by Bureau Veritas.
Q. What are the costs of becoming EcoBizCheck certified?
Q. How long is my certification valid?
A. Your certification is renewable every year. It ensures that you will benefit from all the latest efficient, money-saving actions that the industry develops. We constantly upgrade the actions available to you with a focus on making your business more efficient and saving you even more money.
Q. What if I do not reach the necessary points?
A. We will guide you through the process of improving your eco-efficiency so that you can reach the necessary points score as fast as possible.
Q. How can I offset my carbon emissions?
A. EcoBizCheck is proud to be a partner of Climate Friendly - click here for more info. Climate Friendly works with corporations, businesses and individuals to measure, manage and offset their carbon footprint. Their products include world's best practice carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates GreenPower and Gold Power.
Q. Who audits our organization and how is the integrity of the program maintained?
A. All our clients have signed our terms and conditions which specifically includes a clause on the veracity of the answers provided. The integrity of our program is also ensured by:
- Terms and Conditions (see above)
- Desktop Audit by Bureau Veritas: Some of the actions can be backed up by some form of documentary evidence. We have defined these actions once you reach bronze, silver or gold certification you will be audited by Bureau Veritas.
- EcoBizCheck's associates and Certified EcoBizCheck Consultants may also carry out on-site, non-intrusive audits. Obviously they will advise you well in advance of the audit.
- Self-policing by staff and clients - staff will be aware of the program and will also ensure compliance with the program.
The combination of all these measures will ensure the integrity of EcoBizCheck's certification programs.
Q. Why is EcoBizCheck unique in its approach to greening businesses?
A. EcoBizCheck is the world's first global, online certification company that provides solutions for office, retail, food and beverage and IT based businesses to immediately take action and implement well researched green actions. While the EcoBizCheck program can measure carbon footprints, our approach is more about action first and measuring only once the most obvious activities have been implemented.
EcoBizCheck certification is also the only program in the world that enjoys verification by the world's largest standards provider i.e. Bureau Veritas.
Q. Our organization measures energy and water consumption and also monitors waste but it is often very difficult to make meaningful comparisons. Is there an exact and effective way of comparing data?
The comparability and meaningful analysis of data is one of the most difficult tasks for organizations trying to track energy, water and waste trends.
Every time you measure something at a certain point in time the resultant 'number' is the result of almost unique circumstances. When you next measure the same input there might have been a number of factors that have skewed the result e.g. the consumption of electricity is influenced by a myriad of factors such as:
- pervading climate in period measured - particularly hot summer in one year will inflate air-conditioning expenses compared to costs in a cooler year
- business activity in the period measured (incl. staff fluctuations, overtime worked, etc.)
- procurement of new equipment in one period (is it additional to existing equipment or is replacing obsolete equipment? If yes is it energy star rated as compared to non-energy star rated)
The quest to have the 'perfect number' which in turn will allow an organization to make meaningful comparisons is one of the biggest and most frustrating issues organizations face as far as sustainability is concerned. Unfortunately this problem applies to almost every area of sustainability. Over-analyzing data and trying to find correlations between various hard to measure parameters is often very frustrating and time-consuming.
If you wish to carry out a comprehensive energy audit please contact us and we will introduce you to Bureau Veritas' expert team that can provide you with the relevant services.
